District of Columbia National Guard soldiers stand outside their M-ATV outside Union Station on Aug. 16. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP/File)
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President Donald Trump’s administration is moving to reclaim management of Washington’s Union Station, a historic rail hub that federal officials say has deteriorated after decades of fractured oversight.
“Instead of being a point of pride, Washington’s Union Station has fallen into disrepair,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an Aug. 27 statement. “By reclaiming station management, we will help make this city safe and beautiful.”
The Department of Transportation has owned Union Station since the 1980s, but gradually ceded control through agreements with the Union Station Redevelopment Corp., a nonprofit tasked with preserving the landmark and overseeing improvements to its public spaces. The Trump administration’s plan will seek to leverage the commercial aspects of Union Station, channeling proceeds back into the facility for upgrades to lighting, elevators, security and roof repairs, according to the statement.
The DOT “anticipates that reinvestment and improved security will dramatically improve the income from the station, which should unlock opportunities for private investment,” the statement said.
TUNE IN 📺 for the ACELA-bration: Watch @SecDuffy and @SGBradbury host the launch of @Amtrak’s high-speed rail service at Union Station. 🚅 🎉
Watch here @ 9:00 AM EST ⬇️ https://t.co/6eov9QgjgI
— U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) August 27, 2025
The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to take back direct control of key rail hubs along the Northeast Corridor. In April, Trump tapped national passenger railroad Amtrak to lead the $7 billion makeover of New York’s Pennsylvania Station, ousting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as the original project lead.
The announcement comes as Union Station undergoes a long-term $8.8 billion modernization known as the 2nd Century Plan. The project aims to triple passenger capacity, add a new train hall, expand concourses and redevelop land behind the station while preserving its historic Beaux-Arts facade and Great Hall.
Formal action confirming the administration’s renewed control of Union Station is expected in September, according to the statement.
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